Arc-lamp hanger and automatic cut-out.



A. G. MUNsoN & M.v N. WEBSTER. ARG LAMP HANGER AND AUTOMATIC GUT-OUT.

APPLIOATIQN IIIED MAY 24, 1910.

Patented May 14, 1912.

3 SHEETSSHBET 1.

coLUMBlA PLANOGRAPH C0.,WASH|NGTON. D. C. 4

A. G. MUNsoN & M. N; WEBSTER.

ABG LAMP HANGER AND AUTOMATIC GUT-OUT.

Y APPLICATION FILED M AY 24, 1910.

1,026,360. A Patented 111351111912..

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

/Mffo' A. G. MUNsoN & M. NgWBBsTBR.

ARG LAMP HANGER AND AUTOMATIC CUT-OUT.

Y AIPPLIOATION FILED MAY 24, 1910. 1,026,360. @7g4- Patented May 14, 1912. c; 58 58 SHEETS-SHEET s.

coLumnxA PLANoaRAPl-l co.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT FC.

ALLAN G. MUNSON AND MERTON N. WEBSTER, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

ARC-LAMP HANGER AND AUTOMATIC CUT-OUT, v

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, ALLAN G. Munsonv and MnirroN N. VEBSTER, citizens ot the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county ot Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Imporvements in Arc-Lamp Hangers and Automatic Gut-Outs; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to arc-lamp hangers, and has for one of its objects to provide simplified and improved devices for supporting an aro-lamp, whereby it may be lowered for trimming or repairs and then returned to its operative position.

Another object ci the invention is to provide a device of this character wherein the weight of the lamp is supported independently of the operating means when the parts are in their normal or operative positions.A

Another' object of the invention is to provide a simplified and improved construction and arrangement of co-ntacts, whereby the circuit is opened when the lamp is lowered and positively closed when the lamp is returned to its normal or operative position.v

Another object of the invention is to provide automatic means for short-circuiting the terminals or contacts 'of the line wires to provide for cutting out a lamp without extinguishing other lamps in the same circuit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hanger which may be used in connection with either a bracket', mast-arm, or a suspension-cable, and wherein the lamp supporting devices and operating mechanism are completely and etiiciently "housed to exclude moisture, sleet, or snow, and wherein the housing devices may be readily removed to give access to all the parts for installation or repairs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hanger of such construction that the lamp may be lowered through any space slightly'larger than the body of the lamp, as between trolley-wires or other obstructions. The lamp and operating cable being entirely and absolutely free from the linewires and the operator free from exposure to the risk of an electric shock.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hanger which can be used in connec- Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1912.

Application 1ed` May 24, 1910. Serial No. 563,054.

tion with electric lights arranged for either series or multiple operation without material modiiications in the parts.

lith these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features which are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that the improvement' is susceptible of various changes in form, proportions size and minor details of construction within the scope ot the claims without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings representing` the preferred embodiment of 'the invention, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevationof'the improved device with the lamp suspending devices in elevated position, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and viewed from another side, with the lamp suspending devices in' released or partly lowered position, Fig. 11 is another view similar to Figs. 1 and 3, and viewed form still another side, illustrating the construction and operation of the mechanism whereby the terminals of the line wires are short circuited when the lamp suspending device is lowered, Fig. 5 is a plan view in section on the line 4-1 of Fig. 4, Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are enlarged detail views illustrating the construction and operation of the automatic releasing and coupling mechanism, Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the trip pawls, detached, Fig. 10 is a plan view, enlarged, of the body portion of the lamp suspending device in seotion on the line 10-10 of Fig. 3.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts inthe several views of the drawings.

The improved device comprises a head member represented as a whole at 15 and enlarged at the lower end and provided with a depending skirt 16 from which a housing or casing member 17 is detachably suspended, as by clamp screws 18, the casing being thus removable to provide ready access to the parts. Threaded into the upper end of the head 15 is a plug 19, and formed upon this plug are base portions 20 of supporting cable clamps, the clamp devices being completed by cap members 21 secured to the bases by clamp screws 22. By this arrangement the improved device may be detachably connected to a cable or like supporting means. Depending from the head member 15 are a plurality of rods 23, and connected to these rods at spaced intervals are annular contact supporting disks 24-25. Connected to the disk 24 is an annular plate 26 from which spring contacts 27 arranged in a circle rise, while a similar plate 28 is located upon the disk 25 and provided with spring contacts 29 also arranged in a circle. A binder post 3() is connected to the plate 26 While a similar binding post 31 is connected to the plate 28, the members 26 and 28 being insulated, as indicated, from the members 24-25. A tubular insulator' 32 is arranged through both of the members 24-25, while a shorter tubular insulator is arranged through the member 25, the object to be hereinafter explained.

The lamp suspending portion of the improved apparatus comprises a plate 34 supported by screws or other suitable devices 35 from the head 15 and provided with spaced upwardly directed ears 36 and slots 37 between the ears. Pivoted at 38 between each pair of the ears 36 is a catch bar 39, each bar being divided at the lower end and formed with inwardly directed toes 40 at each side of the division, the terminals of the toes being widened and concaved as shown in Fig. 9 which represents one of these bars detached.

At the upper end of the slot between the toes 40 of the bar 39 a stop shoulder 42 is formed, and pivoted at 43 in this slot is a stop plate represented as a whole at 44 and formed with a relatively small shoulder 45 to engage the shoulder 42 of the bar when in one position, as shown in Fig. 8, and with a larger shoulder 46 at the lower end, the object to be hereinafter explained. Springs 47 are arranged to maintain the bars 39 yieldably in their inward positions.

Arranged to move vertically through the annular members 24 25 and in engagement with the spring contacts 27-29, is the coupling` device between the lamp and the head member and its attachments, the coupling device comprising a tubular body 48 of suitable insulating material and provided with a tubular metal core 49 and with rings 50-51 of conducting material spaced apart and so located that they engage the contacts 2" 29 respectively when the body 48 is in its elevated position, as shown in Fig. 1.

The body 48 is provided with bores 52-53 to provide means for the insertion of conductor wires 54-55 to connect them respectively with the contact rings 5051. Connected to the body 48 at opposite sides are binder posts 56-57 into which the terminals of the wires 54-55 are connected and from which the wires 58H59 lead for connection to the lamp.

Depending from the plate 34 is a guide tube 60 over which the tubular core 49 of the body 48 passes when. the latter is elevated. The core 49 is formed with an eye 61 at the lower end to receive the suspension hook of the lamp, the latter not being shown as it forms no part of the present invention.

Connected to the upper projecting end of the core 49 and bearing upon the upper end of the body 48 is an annular member 62 having an annular barbed upper end 63 to form a lateral lip beneath which the toes 40 of the bars 39 automatically engage when the body 48 is elevated as shown vin Fig. 1. Slidable upon the member' 62 is a trip ring 64, the object to be hereinafter explained.

Mounted for rotation at 65 within the head 15 is a chain guide pulley 66, and leading through an aperture 67 in the head 15 is a chain 68, the latter passing over the pulley 66 and thence down through the guide tube 60 and the core 49 and connected at- 69 beneath the core. The chain 68 is conducted to a cleat or other suitable fastening means, not shown, convenient for the operator.

Connected to the hea'd 15 are brackets 704-71 carrying the insulators 72-73 for the line wires which lead from thence through the tubular insulators 3233 as shown at 74-75 and connected respectively to the binder posts 3.0-31. The mechanism whereby the terminals or contacts of the 'line wires are short circuited when the clamp coupling devices are lowered consists of a bracket 76 connected to the head 15 and having an arm 77 pivoted at 78 thereto and provided with a pulley 79 at its free end adapted to engage against the member 62 as shown in Fig. 4, when the latter is in its upper position.

Leading from the arm 77 is a cont-act 80 insulated from the arm, adapted to engage with spaced contacts 8182 carried by the bracket 76 and insulated therefrom. The contacts 81-82 are connected by wires 83-84 respectively with the binder posts 30-31, and are thus in constant electric connection with the main line wire connections 74H7 5.

lith an apparatus thus constructed the operation is as follows. Assuming that the lamp is suspended from the eye 61 and the wires 58 59 coupled to t-he lamp and the body 48 with its attachments arranged in elevated position with the member 62 coupled by its barbed portion 63 to the pawls 39 as shown in Fig. 1, the circuit will be closed through the main line wires and the lamp by the engagement of the various conn tacts, as will be obvious. It will be noted that the length of the member 62 is sufficient to permit the body 48 and its attachments to be moved upwardly for a corresponding distance, and when the lamp is to be released and lowered to be cleaned, adjusted, to receive new carbons, or for other purposes, the

operator first draws downwardly upon the chain 68 and thus draws the body 48 and its member 62-63 upwardly with the result of causing t-he loose ring 64 to move the pawls 39 outwardly by engaging wit-h their lower inclined faces, and disposing the ring in engagement with the points of the toes 40 of the pawls as shown in Fig. 6. This action automatically couples the pawls to the ring, which is thus gripped between the pawls by the force of t-he springs 47. The operator then releases the chain 68 and permits the body 48 and its attachments to be lowered, the ring 64, as it will be obvious, being engaged by the spring pressed pawls holds the pawls 39 in separated position and permits the barbed portion 63 to pass downward between the pawls, the barbed portion 63 picking up the ring 64 and carrying it downward with it and thus releasing the ring from the pawls which spring inwardly above the head 63. The ring when released from the pawl drops by gravity to its tormer position, as shown in Figs. l, 3, 4 and 8, and the released pawls are also returned to their normal position by the springs. Vhen the lamp is again elevated the barbed terminal 63 separates the pawls and passes above them and at the same time the safety devices 44 move by gravity beneath the barbed terminal and engage over the ring G4 as shown in Fig. 8, and t-hus prevent the ring from being thrown upwardly and cause interference with the operation of the pawls. IVhen the body 48 is irst moved upward to cause the ring 64 to be coupled to the pawls, as above described, the arm 77 is moved outwardly, but this does not effect the contacts, but when the barbed terminal 63 passes downwardly, the'arm 77 is released and the contact 80 engages the contacts 81-82 and the otherwise broken circuit through the line wires is closed, and the remaining lamps of the series cutin during the time that the lamp is in its lowered position. `When the lamp is again elevated, the arm 77 is again operated and the short circuit again broken.

The improved device is simple in construction, can be inexpensively manufactured and of any required size and of any suit-able material and adaptable to various constructions and makes of lamps without material structural changes.

Having described our invention what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:-

1. In van elect-ric lamp hanger, a supporting body having contacts spaced apart and adapted to be connected into the main line circuit, a movable body adapted to support an electric lamp and having spaced contacts for connection to the lamp circuit and engaging wit-h the main line contacts when the movable body is in one position, trip latches carried by said supporting body, coupling means carried by said movable body for engaging with said latches when the movable body is elevated into its normal position, and means operating to move the triplatches and hold them out of operative position when the movable body is elevated above its normal posit-ion.

2. In an electric lamp hanger, a supporting body, two members spaced apart and suspended from said supporting body, contacts carried by said spaced members and adapted to be connected into the main line circuit, a movable body adapted to support an elect-ric lamp and having spaced contacts for connection to the lamp circuits and engaging with the main line contacts when the movable body is in one position, trip latches carried by said supporting body, coupling means carried by said movable body for engaging with said latches when the movable body is elevated above its normal position,

and means operating to move the trip latches and hold them out of operative position when the movable body is elevated above its normal position.

3. In an electric lamp hanger, a head member, two members spaced apart and suspended from said head member, an electric contact carried by each of said spaced members and having means for connection in the main line circuit, a body movable through said spaced members and adapted to support an electric lamp and provided with contacts spaced apart and arranged to engage said main line contacts when the body is in one position, the contacts of said body being adapted to be coupled to the concluetors of a lamp which is supported by the same, trip latches carried by said head member, and coupling means carried by said body :tor engaging said latches when the body is elevated to its normal position.

4. In an electric lamp hanger, a supporting body having contacts spaced apart and adapted to be connected into the main line circuit, a movable body adapted to support an electric lamp and having spaced contacts for connection to the-lamp circuits and engaging with the main line contacts when the movable body is in one position, trip latches carried by said supporting body, coupling means carried by said movable body for engaging said latches when the movable body is elevated above its normal position, and a member movable upon said coupling means and operating to move said latches and hold them out of operative position when the movable body is elevated above its normal position.

5. In an electric lamp hanger, a supporting body having contacts' spaced apart and adapted to be connected into the main line circuit, a movable body adapted to support an electric lamp and having spaced contacts for connection to the lamp circuits and engaging with the main line contacts when the movable` body is in one position, trip latches carried by said supporting body and including inwardly directed toes, a coupling member carried by said movable body and including a barbed terminal for engaging t-he toes ot said latches when the movable body is in normal position, and a member movable upon said. coupling means and operating to move said latches and hold them out of operative engagement when the movable body is disposed in abnormal position.

6. In an electric lamp hanger, a supporting body having contacts spaced apart and adapted to be connected into a main line circuit, a movable body adapted to support an electric lamp and having spaced contacts for connection to the lamp circuits and engaging with the main line contacts when the movable body is in one position, trip latches carried by said supporting body and includ.- ing inwardly directed toes, a coupling member carried by said movable body and including a cylindrical portion and with a barbed terminal for engaging the toes otl said latches when the movable body is in normal position, and a ringmovable upon the cylindrical portion of the coupling member and operating to engage the toes of said latches and hold them out of operative position.

7. In an electric lamp hanger, a supporting body having contacts spaced apart and adapted to be co-nnected into the main line circuit, a movable body adapted to support an electric lamp and having spaced contacts for connection to the lamp circuits and engaging with the mainline contacts when the movable body is in one position, trip latches carried by said supporting body and including inwardly directed toes, a coupling member carried by said movable body and including` a cylindrical portion and with a barbed terminal for engaging the toes of said latches when the movable body is in normal position, a ring movable upon the cylindrical portion of the coupling member. and operating to engage the toes of said latches and hold them out of operative position, and locking elements swinging from said latches and operating to engage the ring and return it to its lower position.

S. In an electric lamp hanger, a supporting body having contacts spaced apart and adapted to be connected into the main line circuit, a movable body adapted to support an electric lamp and having spaced contacts for connection to the lamp circuit and engaging with the main line contacts when the movable body is in one position, trip latches carried by said supporting body, coupling means carried by said movable body for engaging said latches when the movable body is in normal position, means operating to disengage the trip latches and hold them out of operative position when the movable body is disposed in abnormal position, short circuit contacts connected respectively to the main line contacts of the supporting body, and an arm operative to connect said short circuit contacts, said arm being located in the path of said coupling means and the short circuit thereby being maintained open when the movable body is in elevated position.

In testimony whereof, we aiiiX our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

ALLAN G. MUNSON. MERTON N. WEBSTER. fitnesses JOI-1N H.,EKEDAHL, JOHN H. VIEREG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

